Leon Replaces McClinton as Gem of the Ocean Director

Marion McClinton has withdrawn from the Broadway-bound production of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean due to illness. He will be replaced by Kenny Leon, who directed last season's hit Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun, effective immediately.

The start of preview performances for the production's out-of-town tryout run at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston has been delayed; Gem of the Ocean will now begin previews on Friday, September 24 in advance of a September 29 opening and is scheduled to continue its Boston run through October 30. Previews at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre will begin on November 4 and opening night is still scheduled for November 11, as originally planned.

"While I am disappointed about my inability to continue work on Gem of the Ocean at this time," McClinton said in a statement, "I am grateful to Kenny Leon for agreeing to step in and see this wonderful production through." Leon created the role of Citizen Barlow in the original production of Gem of the Ocean at Chicago's Goodman Theatre and has directed all eight of Wilson's previous plays at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, where he served as artistic director for 13 years. He is now the founder and artistic director of True Colors Theatre Company.

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